Learning at the Speed of AI: Mike Hale on VitalSource’s Vision

In this episode of EdTech Elevated, Lisa March sits down with Mike Hale, Ph.D., Chief Learning Officer at VitalSource, to explore the evolving role of AI in education. Mike shares how VitalSource is leveraging AI to accelerate learning, support faculty, and scale evidence-based practices grounded in learning science. From intelligent tutoring systems to real-time decision-making data, he explains how AI tools can enhance—not replace—effective teaching and learning. They also discuss common misconceptions about AI promoting “lazy learning” and the importance of human oversight in maintaining quality and rigor. As Mike puts it, the way people learn hasn’t changed—but the tools available to help them have improved dramatically. He also gives us a look into the near future, forecasting both an explosion and eventual refinement of AI tools in edtech. Whether you’re an educator, administrator, or tech innovator, this conversation offers practical insights into where education is heading—and what we should be paying attention to now.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing:

https://partnerinpublishing.com/ 

Bookmarks:

00:38 - Introduction: Lisa March welcomes Mike Hale, Ph.D, Chief Learning Officer at VitalSource.

01:08 - VitalSource’s role in connecting learning content providers, institutions, and faculty.

03:19 - AI in learning materials: Using AI to enhance courseware and support student learning.

04:24 - Challenges of AI adoption: Faculty vs. student use; need for responsible, ethical AI integration.

05:15 - Bringing faculty up to speed on AI: Training, experimentation, and critical thinking.

6:35 - The Digital Education Council’s Five Dimensions of AI Literacy.

09:12 - Promising AI tools for education: Examples like Khanmigo, Coursemojo, and VitalSource’s interactive tools.

13:50 - Applying Isaac Asimov’s insight: AI should enhance, not replace, human thinking.

14:49 - The Doer Effect: Active engagement multiplies learning, and AI accelerates this.

15:40 - Tutor model revisited: AI-powered personalized questioning inspired by Plato’s Dialogues and The Republic. 

18:10 - Institutional policies on AI: Need for evaluation and approved AI tool lists to ensure responsible adoption. 

20:25 - What AI trends will shape the edtech space in the next 6 to 12 months?

21:50 - Human learning remains constant; AI boosts speed and productivity when used thoughtfully.

23:29 - What AI-driven tools and innovations is VitalSource developing for higher education?

24:47 - Leveraging VitalSource’s data to inform smarter course material decisions.

26:03 - Excitement for scalable adaptive learning and strong partnerships ahead. 

Resources: 

Lisa March 

Michael Hale

Partner in Publishing

VitalSource

Digital Education Council AI Literacy Framework